World Darts Championship: Luke Littler breaks Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price’s nine-dart PDC record | News about darts

Luke Littler remains favorite to win his first World Darts title at Alexandra Palace, although time is running out for him to set a record that is becoming ‘frustration’.

The teenage sensation and last year’s runner-up began his campaign with a 3-1 win over Ryan Meikle, where he recovered from a slow start to fire a record average of 140.91 in the fourth and final set.

Littler’s 32-dart set included six perfect shots en route to an 11-dart first leg, before going agonizingly close to the nine-dart finish in the next, missing the D12 for what would be his fifth nine-dart breakthrough campaign.

The 17-year-old posted nine-dart hauls at the Bahrain Darts Masters, Players Championship 1, Belgian Darts Open and 2024 Premier League Final, although he has since missed out on multiple occasions as he bids to become the first player in PDC history to make five darts with nine arrows in a year.

“It’s definitely getting frustrating in a good way,” admitted Littler after his second-round win over Meikle, where there was the added pressure of knowing the world championship nine-dart shooter would result in a fan in the Ally Pally crowd winning £60,000. “Obviously, as soon as you go to treble 19, your eyes light up.

“I heard the camera pan to the winner, so sorry whoever you are! I’ll try again.”

His latest near miss followed nine-dart failed attempts against Lawrence Ilagan and Jermaine Wattimena in his run to win the Grand Slam of Darts in November – his 10th PDC title of the year.

Littler told reporters in Wolverhampton last month that he considered alternative ways to close the leg after opening with six perfect darts, although he said that was not a consideration during his effort against Meikle.

“I didn’t even think about 51,” Littler admitted. “During the whole match, the covers were OK.

“I’ve left 265 a few times and hit triple 19 well, but I might have to take a moment to think about triple 17.”

Will we see another nine-dart shooter at the World Cup?

Martin Schindler and Damon Heta also failed after eight perfect goals in the leg during this year’s World Cup, while Christian Kist scored the first nine goals in their 3-1 defeat against Madars Razm on 18 December.

Kist launched Paddy Power’s £180,000 bonus in The BIGGER 180 campaign with his stunning perfect leg, with the Dutchman earning £60,000, charity partner Prostate Cancer UK receiving the same amount and the remaining £60,000 going to a lucky random fan.

“I watched it at my friend’s house and I didn’t miss a single session, apart from the night Ryan (Meikle) played Fallon (Sherrock),” added Littler, who beat Kist en route to last year’s final on debut.

“I just looked at my friend and I was like ‘how did he do that? He wasn’t even close last year!’ It just shows how well he’s played this year, so fair play to him – he’s got a nice break ahead of him!”

Can White shock ‘The Nuke’ at Alexandra Palace?

Littler remains on a collision course to meet defending champion Luke Humphries in the semi-finals and his next challenge is against Ian White in the third round on Saturday – the winner will then face either Ryan Joyce or Ryan Searle in the last 16.

White were knocked out in the first round after Sandro Eric Sosing withdrew due to illness and shocked European Championship winner Ritchie Edhouse with a 3-1 win in the next round, with ‘Diamond’ now targeting a famously upset Alexandra Palace.

“Look, the guy is talented and we all know that,” White said before the meeting. “He put darts on the map again. Everyone wants to come to darts and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to us.

“But I just want to say that he’s from Runcorn – the same as me – so he’s No. 2 and I’m No. 1!”

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